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Discovery of a hoard of coins dated to the fifth and sixth centuries in Klapavice (Crkvina) near Klis
Tomislav Šeparović
; Muzej hrvatskih arheoloških spomenika
Sažetak
the numismatic collection of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split has recently been enhanced by a valuable new discovery. During archaeological research conducted by the Museum at the Klapavice (Crkvina) site approximately 2 km north of the town of Klis, a hoard of gold and silver coins dated to the fifth and sixth centuries was discovered in addition to numerous Roman and Byzantine coins. The find consists of 17 exemplars of coins out of which are 14 golden Tremisses while 3 are silver ¼ siliquae. For the most part, these coins can be ascribed to the mints that have been controlled by Ostrogothic rulers, along with one coin that displays most probably Odovacar’s coinage. For some coins though, it was determined that they have been issued by the mint of Constantinople. Some pieces however differ in their features from the so far known examples and could therefore not be determined more precisely. This hoard should be interpreted within the framework of the complex political circumstances which beset the eastern Adriatic seaboard in the first half of the fifth century. This was the time when this region was ruled by the Ostrogoths, against whom the Emperor Justinian, in defence of Byzantine inter- ests, launched a resolute campaign. The war between Byzantium and the Ostrogoths was described by the historian Procopius of Caesarea, who provided information on the conflicts around Salona itself. After the murder of Amalasuntha in 535, the Byzantine army under the command of General Mundus marched into Dalmatia and seized Salona. Not long afterward, Mundus was killed in a battle with the large Gothic army, and the Goths retained their stronghold in Salona’s hinterland, which certainly included the sacral building complex at Klapavice which was used for Arian liturgical services. They soon re – occupied Salona, but not for long, for already at the end of 536 the Byzantine commander Constantianus liberated the city and all of Dalmatia in the process, while the Goths withdrew into Italy. Based on the coins which are terminus post quem, the hoard from Klapavice can very likely be dated to the period of the fiercest battles around Salona in 535 and 536. Besides the historical and political context, an additional attempt is made to explain this hoard in the context of the Klapavice site itself, particularly with reference to the importance of the sacral buildings discovered there, and their relationship to the location of the discovery
Ključne riječi
Ostrogothic coins; Byzantine coins; Klapavice; Klis; Salona; Ostrogoths; Byzantium; Justinian’s reconquest
Hrčak ID:
81249
URI
Datum izdavanja:
7.12.2009.
Posjeta: 1.959 *